The headline rate a provider advertises is rarely the whole story. Here's every fee that can land on a UK card machine bill, what's normal, and where the catches hide.
1. The transaction fee
This is the percentage (and sometimes a few pence) taken from every card sale. UK pay-as-you-go providers typically sit around 1.69%–1.75% for in-person payments, while quote-based acquirers can offer lower blended or interchange-plus rates at higher volumes.
Watch for different rates by card type — premium, commercial and international cards often cost more than a standard UK debit card.
2. The monthly fee
Pay-as-you-go providers (SumUp, Square, Zettle) charge £0 a month — you only pay per transaction. Quote-based providers (Dojo, Worldpay, Barclaycard, Tyl) often charge a monthly fee plus terminal hire.
A monthly fee isn't automatically bad: at higher volumes a lower transaction rate can more than pay for it. Our fee calculator works out where the crossover is.
3. Hardware cost
You either buy the reader outright (£19–£599 depending on the device) or hire/finance it monthly. Buying is usually cheaper long-term; hiring spreads the cost but can lock you into a term.
4. Payout / settlement charges
Standard payouts (1–2 working days) are usually free. Instant or same-day payouts often cost extra — a flat fee or a small percentage. If cash flow is tight, factor this in.
5. The fees providers prefer to bury
These are the ones that don't make the homepage:
- Chargeback fees when a customer disputes a payment
- PCI compliance fees or non-compliance charges (more common with traditional acquirers)
- Authorisation fees per transaction on some merchant accounts
- Early cancellation / exit fees on fixed contracts
- Minimum monthly service charges if you don't hit a turnover threshold
So what actually matters?
For low volumes, the transaction rate and zero monthly fee dominate — pay-as-you-go wins. For higher volumes, a slightly lower rate with a monthly fee can be cheaper overall, but only if there's no contract trap. Always check the total cost of ownership, not just the headline percentage.
FAQs
What's a typical card machine transaction fee in the UK?
Pay-as-you-go providers are usually around 1.69%–1.75% per in-person transaction. Quote-based acquirers may offer lower blended rates at higher volumes, but add monthly and hardware costs.
Are there card machines with no monthly fee?
Yes — SumUp, Square, Zettle and entry myPOS plans have no monthly fee. You buy the reader and pay a percentage per sale.
The POS editorial team
Independent UK payments research. We test, read the small print and write it up in plain English.